Ice-cubing apparatus



Oct. 1, 1940. O SCHWMMER 2,216,603

ICE GUBING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1936 7 INVENTOR 056,412 $0 W/MMER,

.7 a. BY A m 6W A TTORNE).

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 QUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE-(TUBING APPARATUS Oscar Schwimmer, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 11, 1936, Serial No. 90,218

15 Claims.

ample capacity and sufficient regularity of shape couldbe readily attained.-

In the present invention my object is to provide ice-cubing apparatus utilizing electrically heated wires as cutting instruments suitable for commercial service by ice manufacturers in supplying their customers, large and small. consumers, with cube-ice, either in bulk or in regularly sized wrapped packages, and to obtain the production of the maximum number of perfect and evenly sized ice-cubes. V V r A further object of the invention is the provision: of ice-cubing apparatus of simple and practicable construction adapted to produce icecubes in themanner set forth and having a relatively large capacity through continuous and simultaneous severing, action upon a plurality of ice-blocks. by the. several grid-units together with means to ensure uniformity and regularity in the size and shapes of the ice-cubes eminently attractive in appearance and suitable for packaging through the automatic control of the iceblocks in their gravitating movements and reaction with respect to the cutting elements of the apparatus. a 1

.Other objects: and advantages residing in my invention, and, objects relating to details of con struction and various adaptations and arrangements ofparts' thereof, will be readily apparent in the course ofthe detailed description to follow and will be finally pointed out in the appended claims; I The accompanying drawing illustrates by way 'of example arep'resentativeform of my invention, in which: v p

Figurel a view in side'elevation of iceecubing apparatus embodying my invention, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is'a view in front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, partly in horizontal section. Figs 4; is a view in front elevation of the same 5 showing an attachmentfor trimming the sides of the ice-blocks mounted in operative condition on t-lie apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a detached plan view of said attachment, partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus in side elevation showing said attachment mounted thereon, parts being broken away and in section;

Referring to said views; the reference numeral l indicates the rectangular horizontal bed-frame of my improved ice-cubing apparatus supported w upon pairs of legs 2 and 3 at its front and rear corners, respectively. Said frontlegs are provided with screw-studs 5 at-their'lower extremi ties threaded-therein to admit of the leveling of the bed-frameupon' an uneven floor. The rear 15 legs 3 are extended upwardly instanchions 6 and are rigidly connected together by bar's-'1 at their upper ends. Legs 2 and 3' at each side are connected by bars 8 intermediate their lengths.

Bed-plates it and II are rigidly mounted on the frame l-and disposed inthe same inclined plane upon opposite sides of a grid-receivinggap -i2. The plate It extends at its rear end to approximately the level of the horizontal cutting grid 13 and the inclination of both said bedplates is such that a block of ice of fifty pounds .weight', for example, will slide slowly but persistently thereover when the temperature of the plates admits of a slight melting of the contacting surface of the ice. A sheet-metal: tray 15: is provided to overlie said bed-plates and along which the ice-blocks actually slide. Said :tray is formed with relatively narrow perpendicular sides I6 and is removably mounted: :between. angle-brackets I! secured to the bed-plate l0. A lip. I8 isformed on the front edgeof the tray that engages the front Wall of said bed-frame while the rear extremity of the tray overlies. the grid l3 and extends slightly over the central rectangular opening therein; Saidtray bridges the gap I2 between said bed-plates and-"prevents any leakage of wa- .ter from themelting ice therethrough. The tray i5 is further provided with. a pair of guide-strips 23, preferably wires, rigidly secured closely tothe bottom of the-tray in parallel spaced relationto the respectivesides l6 and which are intended to melt into the ice-block as it isplaced symmetrically upon the tray above the bed-plate l0 and thus guide .the ice-block throughout the length of the 'tray in a straight line independently of contact with the sides l6.

The gap l2 is'pro-vided to receive the lower end ofa grid 2|"mounted between angle-bars 22 "secured tostanchion-plates 23 -extended upwardly' on each-side from the bed-frame and connect- *5'5 ed transversely by plate 25 and with the stanchions 6. With the grid 2| in place the tray I5 may be -slidably extended through its middle opening below the lowermost of its electrically heated ice-melting wires 26.

The specific construction of the grids I3 and 2| is described in detail in my said joint application, Serial No. 24,576, of which they form the principal subject matter. In the present case it will be sufiicient to state that they each comprise a dielectric frame 21 and electrically resistant heating wires connected in series in an electrical circuit sup-plied with current at the usual domestic voltage through the cable 28.

The grid 2| is provided with a single set of parallel wires 26 disposed horizontally while the grid I3 bears two similar sets of wires 30 and 3| arranged in two parallel planes and extending at right angles. All of said grid wires are connected in series and the sum of the resistance afforded thereby is sufficient to reduce the voltage effective upon the wires to a point where the life of the wires is safeguarded and efiicient cutting action is maintained.

As stated, the grid |3 is disposed horizontally in the bed-frame while the grid 2| ismounted between the stanchion-plates 23 in angular relation to the plane of the tray I5 forming a slightly obtuse angle with the forward portion of said tray sothat the lower of the wires 26 of the grid will first engage the ice-block and the other superposed ones successively thereafter 32 indicates, generally, a shock-absorbing frame comprising a metal U-shaped strap 33 pivotally connected at 35 to the stanchions 6 and are connected to a similar strap 36 at the lower end of the frame by vertical bars 31. Screwthreaded rods 38 abut upon an end wall 40 of the bed-frame and extend through apertures in the strap 36. Adjustment nuts 4| are screw-threaded upon the outer extremityof each of the rods 38 to limit the outward movement of the frame. Coil-springs 42 about said rods interposed between the wall 40 and the strap 36 resiliently thrust the frame against the nuts 4| and away from said well and admit of the frame yielding to the pressure of an ice-block impelled thereagainst, as will be presently explained more in detail.

,The electrical circuit in which the grids I3 and 2| are included is provided with a cut-out switch'contained in the casing 43 and actuated by the lever 44. Also. said circuit includes a tell-tale lamp 45 which is illuminated when the circuit is closed.

A bracket 46 is provided under the bed-plate 'I 0 and supports a socket 41 in which an electrical heating unit, herein shown as a lamp 48, is mounted and connected in series in the electrical circuit described. Said devices are provided to furnish suflicient heat through radiation to the bed-plate II] to maintain said plate above freezing temperature and thus prevent the ice-block adhering thereto. Such heating devices are not required excepting where the room in which the apparatus is operated is kept at sub-freezing temperatures.

Immediately below the grid I3 an inclined chute 50 is rigidly mounted to receive the icecubes, as 5|, severed bythe heated wires of said grid, said chute extending at its lower extremity beyond the legs 3 and deliver the cubes by their gravity into a receptacle, not shown. The water formed by the melting ice from both grids flows down the tray I5 or drips directly upon the chute 50 and drains therefrom into a transversely disposed trough 52 and thence may be conveyed away through a pipe or hose 53. The lower extremity of said chute is arranged at sufficient elevation above the trough that the descending ice-cubes will be impelled over the trough without striking the same.

The operation of my improved ice-cubing apparatus may be briefly described as follows: The cubical ice-block A is designedly formed by an aliquot division of a standard ice-cakeasuch as is customarily manufacture'd'for commercial use, and in the present example represents a block of approximately fifty pounds in weight. Said block is sawed or otherwise severed from the parent cake in as nearly regular cubical form as may be and is deposited upon the tray I5 above the grid 2| with its sides in rectangular relation with the grid-wires. Owing to the temperature of the tray being maintained somewhat above the freezing point of water the guide-strips 20 will melt their way into the bottom face of the ice-block and serve as guides to retain the block in such rectangular relation throughout its progress along the tray and aid in its positioning upon the grid I3, as will be presently explained.

The slope of the tray I5 is suificient to cause the ice-block to press uponthe grid-wires 26 which are rendered hot through the passage of a current of electricity therethrough. The relatively slight but constant pressure causes the hot wires to sever the block into a plurality of horizontal ice-slabs 55 of even thickness, excepting perhaps the topmost slab 55', which may be removed later as waste if it departs too radically from the desired thickness or regularity of the subjacent slabs.

Such severing operations continue until the entire block is cut through whereupon the block will glide smoothly alo g the tray to descend upon the grid I3. Certain wires 30' of the upper set of wires 30 are disposed in rectilinear alignment with the guide-strips 20 so that the grooves formed by said strips in the bottom of the lowermost slab 55 will register with the wires 30' and ensure that the stack of slabs B will be squarely seated upon the grid-wires 30 in laterally spaced relation to produce cubes at the sides of said slabs of the predetermined size.

The stack B may descend along the wires 30 with considerable force and be carried by its gravity against the shock-frame 32 which will yield more or less in opposition to the springs 42. Said springs will then reassert themselves to push back the stack to the line determined by the set position of the nuts 4|. Lugs 56 having rounded ends are secured to the forward side of the grid I3 above the elevation ofthe grid-wires 30 and serve to ease the rear end of the stack upon said wires and to space the stack from the forward side of the grid, the stack being thus positioned between said lugs and the stack-frame symmetrically with respect to the grid-wires longitudinally and laterally to cut the maximum number of perfect cubes without observationor control of the operator other than in the proper placing of the ice-block with respect to the guidestrips. H I

Thus positioned, the gravity of the stack of slabs upon the heated wires 30 will cause them to be successively severed in; one direction and when they descend to contact the wires 3| they will be cut in a transverse direction to form the cubes 5| which fall into the chute 50, as described.

The grids 2l and 13 are arranged to perform their cutting functions simultaneously'so that continuous production of ice-cubes may be maintained with but intermittent attention from the attendant in placing the ice-blocks upon the tray. To prevent unrestrained sliding of the stack of slabs upon the grid l3 a pivotally mounted post 60 extends through the bed-plate having an arm 6| extending over the tray IS in the path of the stack in its movements between the two grids. Said arm is yieldingly held at right angles to the axis of said tray by a spring connected to the post concealed below the bedplate and serves to retard any unduly rapid motion of the ice-stack and allow it to settle easily upon the grid l3, the arm describing an are somewhat as shown in broken lines 62.

When the stack of slabs is seated upon the grid in the manner and position described the arm will be released and return to its normal position. Provision is sometimes made to cause the arm and post 60 in their rotative movements under the push of the ice-stack to open the electric circuit including said grid-wires so that when the ice-stack engages the grid-wires 30 the latter will be somewhat cooled and will be immediately chilled upon such contact to prevent the undue scoring of the ice by heated wires until the stack is seated and the arm 6| has been released to again close thecircuit.

It is desirable to supply ice-blocks to the grids i3 and 2! in as nearly true cubical form as practicable to obtain the maximum production of perfect cubes therefrom, while oftentimes two opposite sides of the blocks may be uneven causing a quantity of cubes to have ragged or uneven edges and sides. To avoid this I have provided a side-trimming attachment to my described apparatus, although, obviously the same may be built in as an integral part of the apparatus.

Such attachment consists of a body detachably secured to the front end of the bedframe i of my described apparatus and is supported in rigid connection thereto by braces 66 bolted to the front legs 2. Said attachment is formed or provided with a tray 6'! corresponding to the tray l5 having guide-strips 6B rectilinear with the strips 20. A rigid grid-receiving frame 10 is mounted on said body in which a grid H is retained similar to said grids I3 and 2i excepting that in this instance only two outting-wires 12 are employed electrically connected in series in the circuit including said first named grids. tical parallel relation upon opposite sides of the path of an ice-block placed symmetrically upon the tray 61 so that the two, opposite, lateral sides of the ice-block are trimmed inparallel planes before the block passes upon the tray l5 and thence to the slab-cutting wires 26. In this instance a trough 13 is formed below the frame ill to receive the water melted from the ice-block and which is connected by a drainage-pipe 15 with the trough 52. The temperature of the tray 61 of said attachment may be maintained above the freezing point by a heating element 16.

It will be evident that the guide-strips 20 may be of any desired number and that it may be advantageous to provide as many such strips and in the same respective rectilinear relation as there are grid-wires 30 and 30.

The cutting wires 12 are disposed in ver- Having described -my invention, what I claim is: i i 7 1. In ice-cubing apparatus, a bed-frame, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a grid interposed in said bed-plate provided with elec- '5 trically heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a flat tray mounted on said bed-plate extending through said grid, and means on said tray to groove into the bottom of said block to maintain the same in an aligned path on said it tray.

2. In ice-cubing apparatus, a bed-frame, an inclined sectional bed-plate mounted on said frame, a grid interposed between the sections of said sectional bed-plate provided with electrically heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a flat, continuous tray overbridging said sectional bed-plate extending through said grid and having lateral side walls, to collect and direct meltage water away from said grid, and guide-strips on said continuous tray to groove the underside of said ice-block and main-- tain the same in spaced relation with said side walls.

3. In ice-cubing apparatus, a bed-frame, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a grid interposed in said bed-plate provided with electrically heated wires for severing av block of ice into slabs, a tray mounted on said bed-plate extending through said grid, and an electrically heated element mounted under said bed-plate to maintain the bed-plate at a temperature above the freezing point.

4. Ice-cubing apparatus, consisting of a bedframe, an inclined sectional bed-plate mounted on said frame, a substantially vertically disposed grid intermediate said sectional bed-plate provided with electrically heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a second grid mounted horizontally in said frame and provided with 50 two sets of electrically heated wires extending in rectangularly opposite relation to sever said slabs into cubes, an electric circuit including said gridwires arranged in series, said grids being spaced apart for a distance in excess of the lengths of 4'5 said grid-wires, a decelerator interposed between said grids to decelerate the ice slabs after passing through the vertical grid, and a continuous tray overbridging said sectional bed-plate and extending through said first named grid to deliver said ice-slabs upon said second named grid.

5. In ice-cubing apparatus as specified in claim 4, said decelerating means comprising an arm pivotally mounted in said bed-plate and extending over said tray to engage the ice-slabs, together with switch-mechanism in said circuit normally closed and arranged to be opened through the deflection of said arm in the movement of the ice-slabs.

6. Ice-cubing apparatus, consisting of a bed,- frame, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a vertical grid mounted on said frame intermediate the length of said bed-plate, a horizontal grid in said frame, electrically heated wires in said grids for severing an ice-block into slabs and cubes, respectively, an electrical circuit including said grid wires arranged in series, a switch in said circuit, a tray mounted on said bed-plate extending through an opening in said first named grid and arranged to deliver slabs, severed from said ice-block, by gravity upon the wires of said second named grid, and an arm pivotally interposed in the path of said iceslabs and arranged to retard the movements of said slabs and to be swung thereby to actuate said switch to open said circuit.

7. Ice-cubing apparatus, consisting of a bedframe, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a substantially vertical grid mounted on said frame intermediate the length of said bedplate, a horizontal grid in said frame, electrically heated wires in said grids for severing an iceblock into slabs and cubes, respectively, an electrical circuit including said grid wires arranged in series, a tray mounted on said bed-plate extending through the grid-wire opening in said first named grid and arranged to deliver slabs bygravity severed from said ice-block upon the wires of said second named grid, and a springpressed shock-frame adapted to be engaged by said ice-slabs and to yieldingly recoil said slabs in aligned position on said second named grid.

8. Ice-cubing apparatus, comprising a bedframe, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a substantially vertical grid interposed in said bed-plate provided with electrically heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a second grid disposed horizontally in said bed-frame provided with two superposed sets of electrically heated wires arranged in rectangular relation to sever said slabs into cubes, a tray mounted on said bed-plate and extending through said first named grid to convey said-slabs by gravity upon the second named grid, and a pair of guide-strips secured on said tray to maintain said ice-block and slabs in a straight path on said tray, each of said guide strips being disposed in and parallel to the vertical plane passing through one of the wires of said second named grid.

9, Ice-cubing apparatus, comprising a bedframe, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a vertical grid intermediate of said bedplate provided with electrically heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a grid disposed horizontally in said bed-frame provided with two superposed sets of electrically heated wires arranged in rectangular relation to sever said slabs into cubes, a tray mounted on said bed-plate and extending through said vertical grid to convey said slabs by gravity upon said horizontal grid, a pair of guide-strips secured longitudinally of said tray and in rectilinear relation with a pair of wires of said horizontal grid to maintain said ice-block and slabs in a straight path on said tray and in symmetrical arrangement with said horizontal grid-wires, in lateral directions, and a spring-pressed shock frame adapted to be engaged by said ice-slabs and to yieldingly recoil said slabs in aligned position on said horizontal grid.

10. Ice-cubing apparatus, consisting of the subject matter recited in claim 8, in combination with an attachment therefor including a frame adapted to be rigidly secured to said bed-frame, an inclined tray-extension having guide-strip extensions in rectilinear relation to said guidestrips, and a vertically disposed grid, provided with a pair of vertical electrically heated wires arranged to trim the lateral sides of the iceblock in parallel planes.

11. Ice-cubing apparatus consisting of a bedframe, an inclined bed-plate mounted on said frame, a substantially vertical grid interposed in said bed-plate provided with electrically heated Wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a second grid disposed horizontally in said bed-frame provided with two superposed sets of electrically heated wires arranged in rectangular relation to sever said slabs into cubes, a tray mounted on said bed-plate and extending through said first named grid to convey said slabs by gravity upon said second named grid, and a plurality of guidestrips arranged longitudinally of said tray to score the bottom of said ice-block and slabs in rectilinear relation with the uppermost wires of the second named grid.

12. In an ice cubing apparatus, a grid comprising electrically-heated wires for severing an ice block, and means engaging only one surface of the ice block operable to support and guide the ice block against and through the grid.

13. In ice-cubing apparatus, the combination of a vertical grid comprising electrically-heated wires for severing a block of ice into slabs, a horizontal grid having two sets of electricallyheated wires for severing said slabs into cubes, an imperforated tray extending through said vertical grid and arranged to uninterruptedly convey by gravity said slabs upon said horizontal grid, an inclined chute below the horizontal grid to receive ice cubes and water from said horizontal grid and direct the cubes from under said grid, a receptacle to receive water from said chute having an opening therein from said chute of less diameter than the cubes cut by said horizontal grid.

14. In ice cubing apparatus, a slabbing grid and a cubing grid, each comprising electricallyheated wires and juxta-posed for successive operation, means including an inclined chute for the continuous movement thereon of a pair of ice blocks successively through said slabbing and cubing grids, said means and cubing grid being operable to effect the cubing of the first ice block passing from the slabbing grid before a second ice block, immediately following the first block, reaches the cubing grid in its continuous movement through the grids.

15. In ice cubing apparatus, a slabbing grid and a cubing grid, each comprising electricallyheated Wires and juXta-posed for successive operation, means including an inclined chute for the immediately successive, continuous and uninterrupted movement by gravitation of a pair of ice blocks to said slabbing grid and thereafter to said cubing grid, said means and slabbing grid being operable to retard the continuous movement of the second of said ice blocks until the first block passes through said cubing grid.

OSCAR SCHWIMIMER. 

